Sophia the Robot Could Be Coming to a Store Near You

Hanson Robotics, the company behind Sophia the Robot, has announced that it will begin mass producing robots for use in healthcare, retail and airline settings.

The Hong Kong-based tech company told Reuters that four models, including Sophia and one named Grace, will launch sometime during the first half of 2021. "The world of COVID-19 is going to need more and more automation to keep people safe," Hanson Robotics Founder David Hanson explained, adding that he aims to sell "thousands" of robots by the end of the year. Indeed, the use of robots could prove useful in pandemic relief efforts, as they can't transmit or become infected with coronavirus. In addition, Hanson says humanoid bots like Sophia could help us overcome quarantine-induced loneliness. "Sophia and Hanson robots are unique by being so human-like. That can be so useful during these times where people are terribly lonely and socially isolated," he said.

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